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 Pastfinders undertake research of many types, but our speciality is convict trials of the 18th and 19th centuries, especially relating to the transportation of convicts to Australia, and elsewhere. Between 1787 and 1868 some 160,000 men, women and children were transported in this way. It was, by modern standards, a brutal system. Sentences were harsh, and passed for even the most trivial offences. With overcrowded prisons, the Government commissioned Hulks, large floating prisons, which were moored in the Thames and elsewhere to hold the convicts, prior to Transportation. Conditions were appalling, and the journey itself horrendous. It is perhaps not surprising that the majority, after serving their sentence, chose to remain in Australia and not return to the country that had treated them so harshly. If you are descended from one of these convicts, we can help your research by providing the trial records, details of hulks, and other documents relating to the Transportation of your ancestor. See our factsheet for more general information. We may even already have some details of your ancestor's case - have a look at our new unclaimed convicts section We also maintain a free online database outlining the offences of a small percentage of the trials we have researched.
Of course, Australia was not the only country that Britain transported convicts to. Convicts were also sent to the West Indies and, later, to Bermuda. Most importantly, transportation continued to America until 1776. So if you are descended from a convict sent to any of these countries, we can also help with tracing their trial records, too |